JP6312507B2 - Liquid ejection device and liquid ejection head - Google Patents

Liquid ejection device and liquid ejection head Download PDF

Info

Publication number
JP6312507B2
JP6312507B2 JP2014080850A JP2014080850A JP6312507B2 JP 6312507 B2 JP6312507 B2 JP 6312507B2 JP 2014080850 A JP2014080850 A JP 2014080850A JP 2014080850 A JP2014080850 A JP 2014080850A JP 6312507 B2 JP6312507 B2 JP 6312507B2
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
liquid
communication path
liquid storage
communication
bubbles
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
JP2014080850A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Other versions
JP2014240186A (en
Inventor
弘雅 安間
弘雅 安間
恭輔 戸田
恭輔 戸田
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Inc
Original Assignee
Canon Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Canon Inc filed Critical Canon Inc
Priority to JP2014080850A priority Critical patent/JP6312507B2/en
Publication of JP2014240186A publication Critical patent/JP2014240186A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of JP6312507B2 publication Critical patent/JP6312507B2/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2/14016—Structure of bubble jet print heads
    • B41J2/14145—Structure of the manifold
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B41J2002/14362—Assembling elements of heads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
    • B41J2202/01—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads
    • B41J2202/11—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads characterised by specific geometrical characteristics

Landscapes

  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Description

本発明は、記録素子基板を支持する支持部材に液体収容部を設けた液体吐出ヘッドが搭載された液体吐出装置、および液体吐出装置に取り外し可能に搭載される液体吐出ヘッドに関する。   The present invention relates to a liquid discharge apparatus in which a liquid discharge head having a liquid storage portion provided on a support member that supports a recording element substrate is mounted, and a liquid discharge head that is detachably mounted in the liquid discharge apparatus.

記録素子基板を支持する支持部材に複数の液体収容部を設けた液体吐出ヘッドが提案されている（特許文献１）。サーマル方式の記録素子基板を備えた液体吐出ヘッドが搭載された液体吐出装置について説明する。
記録素子基板は、記録素子基板の一方の面に形成された吐出口と、吐出口に連通する発泡室と、発泡室の壁に設けられた吐出エネルギ発生素子としての発熱抵抗体と、発泡室に連通する複数の液室と、を有する。複数の液室の各々は記録素子基板の他方の面に形成された開口を有する。
支持部材は当該他方の面を支持している。また、支持部材は、液体収容部から液室の開口まで延びる連通路を有する。記録素子基板および支持部材を備える液体吐出ヘッドは、吐出口を下方に向けた状態で液体吐出装置に搭載される。
液体は、液体収容部から連通路、液室をこの順に流れ、発泡室へ供給される。発熱抵抗体に駆動エネルギが加えられることで、発泡室内の液体に沸騰膜が生じる。沸騰膜による圧力を用いて吐出口から液体が吐出される。 A liquid discharge head in which a plurality of liquid storage portions are provided on a support member that supports a recording element substrate has been proposed (Patent Document 1). A liquid discharge apparatus equipped with a liquid discharge head having a thermal recording element substrate will be described.
The recording element substrate includes a discharge port formed on one surface of the recording element substrate, a foam chamber communicating with the discharge port, a heating resistor as a discharge energy generating element provided on a wall of the foam chamber, and a foam chamber A plurality of liquid chambers communicating with each other. Each of the plurality of liquid chambers has an opening formed on the other surface of the recording element substrate.
The support member supports the other surface. The support member has a communication path extending from the liquid storage portion to the opening of the liquid chamber. A liquid discharge head including a recording element substrate and a support member is mounted on a liquid discharge apparatus with the discharge port facing downward.
The liquid flows from the liquid container to the communication path and the liquid chamber in this order, and is supplied to the foaming chamber. When the driving energy is applied to the heating resistor, a boiling film is formed in the liquid in the foaming chamber. Liquid is discharged from the discharge port using the pressure generated by the boiling film.

ところで、記録素子基板は比較的高価な部材を含む。液体吐出ヘッドや液体吐出装置のコストを抑制するために、記録素子基板の小型化が求められている。
例えば、サーマル方式の記録素子基板は、発熱抵抗体や、当該発熱抵抗体と電気的に接続された電気配線を形成するための半導体基板を含む。半導体基板はシリコンウエハをいくつかに切断することで得られる。シリコンウエハは、シリコンといった半導体素材の種結晶を円柱状に成長させたインゴットを所定の厚さでスライスした円盤状の板であり、比較的高価な部材である。
記録素子基板を小型化することで半導体基板が小型化される。その結果、１つのシリコンウエハからより多くの半導体基板が得られる。言い換えれば、記録素子基板を小型化することで１つのシリコンウエハからより多くの記録素子基板が製造され、液体吐出ヘッドや液体吐出装置のコストが抑制される。 Incidentally, the recording element substrate includes a relatively expensive member. In order to reduce the cost of the liquid discharge head and the liquid discharge apparatus, the recording element substrate is required to be downsized.
For example, a thermal recording element substrate includes a heat generating resistor and a semiconductor substrate for forming an electrical wiring electrically connected to the heat generating resistor. The semiconductor substrate can be obtained by cutting a silicon wafer into several parts. The silicon wafer is a disk-like plate obtained by slicing an ingot obtained by growing a seed crystal of a semiconductor material such as silicon into a columnar shape with a predetermined thickness, and is a relatively expensive member.
By downsizing the recording element substrate, the semiconductor substrate is downsized. As a result, more semiconductor substrates can be obtained from one silicon wafer. In other words, by reducing the size of the recording element substrate, more recording element substrates are manufactured from one silicon wafer, and the costs of the liquid discharge head and the liquid discharge apparatus are suppressed.

複数の液室を含む記録素子基板を小型化するには、隣り合う液室同士の間の間隔を狭めることが有効である。複数の連通路を有する液体吐出ヘッドでは、隣り合う液室同士の間の間隔の狭小化に伴い、隣り合う連通路同士の間の間隔も狭める必要がある。隣り合う連通路同士の間の間隔を狭めるには、隣り合う連通路同士の間の連通路壁を薄くすることが考えられる。
しかし、液体収容部を有する支持部材は記録素子基板よりも大きい。そのため、支持部材のコストを抑制するために、例えば樹脂材料といった、記録素子基板の素材よりも安価で強度の弱い素材を用いて支持部材を成形することが望ましい。樹脂材料からなる支持部材の場合、連通路壁を薄くすると、連通路壁の強度が不足して液体吐出ヘッドの製造時や使用時に連通路壁が破損する可能性がある。
このような理由から、特許文献２に開示の液体吐出ヘッドでは、連通路の横断面積（ある物を水平面に沿って切ったときの切り口の面積をいう。以下、同じ。）が液室の開口の面積や液体収容部の横断面積よりも小さくされている。連通路の横断面積が小さくなることで連通路壁の厚みが厚くなり、連通路壁の強度が確保される。 In order to reduce the size of a recording element substrate including a plurality of liquid chambers, it is effective to reduce the interval between adjacent liquid chambers. In a liquid discharge head having a plurality of communication paths, it is necessary to reduce the distance between adjacent communication paths as the distance between adjacent liquid chambers becomes narrower. In order to narrow the interval between adjacent communication paths, it is conceivable to make the communication path wall between adjacent communication paths thinner.
However, the support member having the liquid storage portion is larger than the recording element substrate. For this reason, in order to reduce the cost of the support member, it is desirable to mold the support member using a material that is cheaper and weaker than the material of the recording element substrate, such as a resin material. In the case of a support member made of a resin material, if the communication path wall is thinned, the strength of the communication path wall may be insufficient, and the communication path wall may be damaged when the liquid discharge head is manufactured or used.
For this reason, in the liquid discharge head disclosed in Patent Document 2, the cross-sectional area of the communication path (the area of the cut when a certain object is cut along the horizontal plane; the same applies hereinafter) is the opening of the liquid chamber. And the cross-sectional area of the liquid container are smaller. By reducing the cross-sectional area of the communication path, the thickness of the communication path wall is increased, and the strength of the communication path wall is ensured.

米国特許第７２６７４３１号明細書US Pat. No. 7,267,431 特開２００８−２３８５１８号公報JP 2008-238518 A

複数の液体収容部を有する液体吐出ヘッドでは、液体収容部を比較的自由な位置に設けることができるように、複数の連通路が異なる長さ（液体の流れ方向に関する寸法を言う。以下、同じ。）を有することが望ましい。複数の連通路が異なる長さを有することで、複数の液体収容部を鉛直方向に関して異なる位置に設けることができる。
しかしながら、特許文献１に開示の液体吐出ヘッドにおいて複数の連通路が異なる長さを有する場合、相対的に長い連通路に連通する吐出口から液体が良好に吐出されない虞がある。この理由について、図１４を用いて説明する。図１４は、長さの異なる複数の連通路を有する液体吐出ヘッドの断面図である。 In a liquid discharge head having a plurality of liquid storage portions, the plurality of communication passages have different lengths (the dimensions relating to the liquid flow direction so that the liquid storage portions can be provided at relatively free positions. .) Is desirable. Since the plurality of communication passages have different lengths, the plurality of liquid storage portions can be provided at different positions in the vertical direction.
However, when the plurality of communication passages have different lengths in the liquid discharge head disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that the liquid may not be discharged well from the discharge port communicating with the relatively long communication passage. The reason for this will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid discharge head having a plurality of communication paths having different lengths.

液体吐出ヘッドの液体収容部１ａ，１ｂ，１ｃ、連通路２ａ，２ｂ，２ｃ、液室３ａ，３ｂ，３ｃからなる空間内では気泡が成長する。この気泡は、液体中に残留している気体や、液体収容部１ａ，１ｂ，１ｃに液体を注入する際に液体とともに流入する外気、液体の吐出時に吐出口から流入する外気、記録素子基板４と支持部材５との間の隙間から流入する外気、などが原因と考えられている。
気泡には浮力および表面張力が作用する。浮力は、気泡上部と気泡下部の水頭差により生じる、上向きの力である。表面張力は、気泡の上部に作用する下向きの力（以下、「上部表面張力」と称する）と、気泡の下部に作用する上向きの力（以下、「下部表面張力」と称する。）に分けられる。また、表面張力の大きさは、気泡の表面積に依存し、気泡の表面積が小さいほど表面張力が大きいことが知られている。
図１４に示される液体吐出ヘッドでは、連通路２ａの横断面積Ｗａが液室３ａの開口の面積よりも小さい。そのため、気泡６ａが液室３ａ内で成長して気泡６ａの横断面積が連通路２ａの横断面積Ｗａよりも大きくなった場合、気泡６ａの上部だけが連通路２ａに入る。
この段階では、気泡６ａの上部の表面積は気泡６ａの下部の表面積よりも小さいので、上部表面張力Ｔｕａが下部表面張力Ｔｌａよりも大きい。上部表面張力Ｔｕａが下部表面張力Ｔｌａと浮力Ｂａとの合力と等しくなると、気泡６ａは上昇しなくなり、気泡６ａの下部は液室３ａに留まる（図１４（ａ）参照）。
連通路２ｂの横断面積Ｗｂは液室３ｂの開口の面積よりも小さい。したがって、気泡６ｂが液室３ｂ内で成長して気泡６ｂの横断面積が連通路２ｂの横断面積Ｗｂよりも大きくなった場合、気泡６ａと同様に、気泡６ｂの下部は液室３ｂに留まる。 Bubbles grow in a space composed of the liquid storage portions 1a, 1b, 1c, the communication passages 2a, 2b, 2c, and the liquid chambers 3a, 3b, 3c of the liquid discharge head. The bubbles are the gas remaining in the liquid, the outside air that flows in along with the liquid when the liquid is injected into the liquid storage portions 1a, 1b, and 1c, the outside air that flows in from the discharge port when the liquid is discharged, and the recording element substrate 4. This is considered to be caused by the outside air flowing in from the gap between the support member 5 and the support member 5.
Buoyancy and surface tension act on the bubbles. Buoyancy is an upward force generated by the water head difference between the upper part of the bubble and the lower part of the bubble. The surface tension is divided into a downward force acting on the upper portion of the bubble (hereinafter referred to as “upper surface tension”) and an upward force acting on the lower portion of the bubble (hereinafter referred to as “lower surface tension”). . Further, it is known that the magnitude of the surface tension depends on the surface area of the bubbles, and the smaller the surface area of the bubbles, the larger the surface tension.
In the liquid discharge head shown in FIG. 14, the cross-sectional area Wa of the communication path 2a is smaller than the area of the opening of the liquid chamber 3a. Therefore, when the bubble 6a grows in the liquid chamber 3a and the cross-sectional area of the bubble 6a becomes larger than the cross-sectional area Wa of the communication path 2a, only the upper part of the bubble 6a enters the communication path 2a.
At this stage, since the upper surface area of the bubble 6a is smaller than the lower surface area of the bubble 6a, the upper surface tension Tua is larger than the lower surface tension Tla. When the upper surface tension Tua becomes equal to the resultant force of the lower surface tension Tla and the buoyancy Ba, the bubble 6a does not rise, and the lower part of the bubble 6a remains in the liquid chamber 3a (see FIG. 14A).
The cross-sectional area Wb of the communication path 2b is smaller than the area of the opening of the liquid chamber 3b. Therefore, when the bubble 6b grows in the liquid chamber 3b and the cross-sectional area of the bubble 6b becomes larger than the cross-sectional area Wb of the communication path 2b, the lower part of the bubble 6b remains in the liquid chamber 3b like the bubble 6a.

図１４（ｂ）は、図１４（ａ）に示される状態から気泡６ａ，６ｂがさらに成長したときの図である。図１４（ｂ）に示される状態では、連通路２ｂおよび液室３ｂに溜まった気泡６ｂの上部が液体収容部１ｂに達している。液体収容部１ｂの横断面積は連通路２ｂの横断面積Ｗｂよりも大きいので、気泡６ｂの上部の表面積は図１４（ａ）に示される状態よりも大きくなる。その結果、上部表面張力Ｔｕｂが下部表面張力Ｔｌｂと浮力Ｂｂとの合力よりも小さくなり、気泡６ｂは上昇して液室３ｂから抜ける。
連通路２ａの長さＬａは連通路２ｂの長さＬｂよりも長いので、気泡６ａが気泡６ｂと同じ程度に成長しても気泡６ａの上部は液体収容部１ａに達していない。そのため、上部表面張力Ｔｕａが下部表面張力Ｙｌａと浮力Ｂａとの合力よりも大きいままであり、気泡６ａの下部は液室３ａに留まり続ける。
成長した気泡６ａは、液体収容部１ａから液室３ａへの液体の流れを阻害し、液室３ａ内のへ液体の供給不足を招く。その結果、液室３ａに連通する吐出口から液体が良好に吐出されなくなる。 FIG. 14B is a diagram when the bubbles 6a and 6b further grow from the state shown in FIG. 14A. In the state shown in FIG. 14B, the upper portions of the bubbles 6b accumulated in the communication passage 2b and the liquid chamber 3b reach the liquid storage portion 1b. Since the cross-sectional area of the liquid storage portion 1b is larger than the cross-sectional area Wb of the communication passage 2b, the surface area of the upper part of the bubble 6b is larger than the state shown in FIG. As a result, the upper surface tension Tub becomes smaller than the resultant force of the lower surface tension Tlb and the buoyancy Bb, and the bubbles 6b rise and escape from the liquid chamber 3b.
Since the length La of the communication path 2a is longer than the length Lb of the communication path 2b, even if the bubble 6a grows to the same extent as the bubble 6b, the upper part of the bubble 6a does not reach the liquid container 1a. Therefore, the upper surface tension Tua remains larger than the resultant force of the lower surface tension Yla and the buoyancy Ba, and the lower part of the bubbles 6a continues to remain in the liquid chamber 3a.
The grown bubble 6a obstructs the flow of the liquid from the liquid container 1a to the liquid chamber 3a, leading to insufficient supply of the liquid into the liquid chamber 3a. As a result, the liquid is not discharged well from the discharge port communicating with the liquid chamber 3a.

以上のような理由により、相対的に長い連通路２ａに連通する吐出口から液体が良好に吐出されなくなる。
液室３ａ内の気泡６ａを取り除くために、液室３ａ内の液体とともに気泡６ａを吐出口から吸引する吸引機構を液体吐出装置に設けることが提案されている（例えば、特許文献２）。しかしながら、吸引機構を液体吐出装置に設けると、液体吐出装置のコストが増加してしまう。
そこで、本発明は上述したような課題を解決するものである。すなわち、本発明は、比較的自由な位置に複数の液体収容部を設けることができるとともに、コストおよび液体の吐出不良を抑制することができる液体吐出装置を提供することを目的とする。 For the reasons described above, the liquid is not discharged well from the discharge port communicating with the relatively long communication path 2a.
In order to remove the bubbles 6a in the liquid chamber 3a, it has been proposed to provide a suction mechanism for sucking the bubbles 6a from the discharge port together with the liquid in the liquid chamber 3a (for example, Patent Document 2). However, if the suction mechanism is provided in the liquid ejection device, the cost of the liquid ejection device increases.
Therefore, the present invention solves the above-described problems. That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid ejection apparatus that can provide a plurality of liquid storage portions at relatively free positions, and can suppress cost and liquid ejection failure.

上記の課題を解決するため本発明は、記録素子基板と支持部材とを備えた液体吐出ヘッドが搭載された液体吐出装置に係る。記録素子基板は、一方の面に形成された吐出口並びに該吐出口に連通する第１および第２の液室を有する。支持部材は、記録素子基板の他方の面を支持する支持部材。第１および第２の液室の各々は他方の面に形成された開口を有する。支持部材は、第１および第２の液体収容部と、第１の液体収容部から第１の液室の開口まで延びる第１の連通路と、第２の液体収容部から第２の液室の開口まで延びる第２の連通路と、を有する。第１および第２の連通路は、それぞれ、第１および第２の液室の開口の面積よりも小さい横断面積を有する流路部分を含む。流路部分が、第１および第２の液体収容部それぞれに該液体収容部内の空間を絞るように連続している。この態様において、本発明は、第１の連通路の流路部分の長さが第２の連通路の流路部分の長さよりも長く、第１の液体収容部が第２の液体収容部よりも記録素子基板から離れており、第１の連通路の流路部分の横断面積が第２の連通路の流路部分の横断面積よりも大きいことを特徴とする。   In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention relates to a liquid discharge apparatus equipped with a liquid discharge head including a recording element substrate and a support member. The recording element substrate has an ejection port formed on one surface and first and second liquid chambers communicating with the ejection port. The support member is a support member that supports the other surface of the recording element substrate. Each of the first and second liquid chambers has an opening formed on the other surface. The support member includes first and second liquid storage portions, a first communication path extending from the first liquid storage portion to the opening of the first liquid chamber, and a second liquid chamber from the second liquid storage portion. A second communication path extending to the opening. The first and second communication passages each include a flow path portion having a cross-sectional area smaller than the area of the opening of the first and second liquid chambers. The flow path portion is continuous with each of the first and second liquid storage portions so as to restrict the space in the liquid storage portion. In this aspect, according to the present invention, the length of the flow path portion of the first communication path is longer than the length of the flow path portion of the second communication path, and the first liquid storage portion is longer than the second liquid storage portion. Is separated from the recording element substrate, and the cross-sectional area of the flow path portion of the first communication path is larger than the cross-sectional area of the flow path portion of the second communication path.

本発明によれば、第１の連通路の流路部分が第２の連通路の流路部分よりも長い、すなわち第１および第２の連通路の長さが異なっているので、第１および第２の液体収容部を比較的自由な位置に設けることができる。
また、第１の連通路の流路部分の横断面積が第２の連通路の流路部分の横断面積よりも大きいので、第１の連通路および第１の液室内の第１の気泡の上部表面張力は、第２の連通路および第２の液室内の第２の気泡の上部表面張力に比べて小さい。したがって、第１の気泡は、第１の液体収容部に達しなくても上昇することができ、液体の吐出不良が抑制される。
第２の連通路の流路部分は第１の連通路の流路部分よりも短いので、第２の連通路および第２の液室内の第２の気泡は第２の液体収容部に達しやすい。したがって、第２の気泡は第２の液室に溜まりにくく、液体の吐出不良が抑制される。
さらに、本発明によれば、吸引機構が不要なので、液体吐出装置のコストが抑えられる。 According to the present invention, the flow path portion of the first communication path is longer than the flow path portion of the second communication path, that is, the lengths of the first and second communication paths are different. The second liquid container can be provided at a relatively free position.
In addition, since the cross-sectional area of the flow path portion of the first communication path is larger than the cross-sectional area of the flow path portion of the second communication path, the upper part of the first bubbles in the first communication path and the first liquid chamber The surface tension is smaller than the upper surface tension of the second bubble in the second communication path and the second liquid chamber. Therefore, the first bubbles can rise even if they do not reach the first liquid storage portion, and liquid ejection defects are suppressed.
Since the flow path portion of the second communication path is shorter than the flow path portion of the first communication path, the second bubbles in the second communication path and the second liquid chamber easily reach the second liquid storage portion. . Therefore, the second bubbles are unlikely to collect in the second liquid chamber, and liquid ejection defects are suppressed.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the suction mechanism is unnecessary, the cost of the liquid ejection device can be suppressed.

本実施形態に係る液体吐出ヘッドを下側から見たときの斜視図。FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the liquid discharge head according to the present embodiment when viewed from below. 液体吐出ヘッドを搭載した液体吐出装置の斜視図。FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a liquid discharge apparatus equipped with a liquid discharge head. 本実施形態に係る液体吐出ヘッドを上側から見たときの斜視図。FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the liquid ejection head according to the present embodiment as viewed from above. 記録素子基板の平面図。FIG. 3 is a plan view of a recording element substrate. 記録素子基板のＤ−Ｄ断面図。FIG. 4 is a DD cross-sectional view of a recording element substrate. 液体吐出ヘッドの分解斜視図。FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a liquid discharge head. 液体吐出ヘッドのＡ−Ａ断面図。AA sectional view of a liquid discharge head. 液体吐出ヘッドのＢ−Ｂ断面図。BB sectional drawing of a liquid discharge head. 液体吐出ヘッドのＣ−Ｃ断面図。CC sectional drawing of a liquid discharge head. 気泡に作用する力を説明するためのＡ−Ａ断面図。AA sectional drawing for demonstrating the force which acts on a bubble. 支持部材９の製造方法を説明するためのＡ−Ａ断面図。AA sectional drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the supporting member 9. FIG. 支持部材９の製造方法を説明するためのＢ−Ｂ断面図。BB sectional drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the supporting member 9. FIG. 支持部材９の製造方法を説明するためのＣ−Ｃ断面図。CC sectional drawing for demonstrating the manufacturing method of the supporting member 9. FIG. 長さの異なる複数の連通路を有する液体吐出ヘッドの断面図。FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid discharge head having a plurality of communication paths having different lengths.

以下、図面を参照して本発明の実施形態を説明する。
図１は本実施形態に係る液体吐出ヘッドを下側から見たときの斜視図であり、図２は液体吐出ヘッドが搭載された液体吐出装置の斜視図である。
図１に示すように、本実施形態に係る液体吐出ヘッド７は、記録素子基板８と、記録素子基板８を支持する支持部材９と、支持部材９の側面に配されたコンタクト部１０と、を備える。コンタクト部１０と記録素子基板８とは電気配線部材（電気配線テープ）１１を用いて電気的に接続されている。
液体吐出装置１２（図２参照）は、液体吐出ヘッド７を取り外し可能に保持するキャリッジ（不図示）を備えている。液体吐出ヘッド７が液体吐出装置１２に搭載されると、液体吐出装置１２のコンタクトピン（不図示）とコンタクト部１０とが接する。液体吐出装置１２が発する駆動信号は、コンタクト部１０および電気配線部材１１を介して記録素子基板８へ伝えられる。
また、液体吐出ヘッド７は、支持部材９の上端に取り付けられた蓋部材１３を備える。図３は、支持部材９から蓋部材１３を取り外した状態の液体吐出ヘッド７を上側から見たときの斜視図である。 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the liquid discharge head according to the present embodiment as viewed from below, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a liquid discharge apparatus on which the liquid discharge head is mounted.
As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid ejection head 7 according to the present embodiment includes a recording element substrate 8, a support member 9 that supports the recording element substrate 8, a contact portion 10 disposed on a side surface of the support member 9, Is provided. The contact portion 10 and the recording element substrate 8 are electrically connected using an electric wiring member (electric wiring tape) 11.
The liquid ejection device 12 (see FIG. 2) includes a carriage (not shown) that detachably holds the liquid ejection head 7. When the liquid ejection head 7 is mounted on the liquid ejection device 12, a contact pin (not shown) of the liquid ejection device 12 and the contact portion 10 come into contact with each other. A drive signal generated by the liquid ejection device 12 is transmitted to the recording element substrate 8 via the contact portion 10 and the electric wiring member 11.
The liquid discharge head 7 includes a lid member 13 attached to the upper end of the support member 9. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the liquid discharge head 7 with the lid member 13 removed from the support member 9 as viewed from above.

図３に示すように、支持部材９は、複数の液体貯留部３３ａ、３３ｂ、３３ｃを有する。
本実施形態では、複数の液体貯留部３３ａ、３３ｂ、３３ｃは、１つの収容空間が壁を用いて分割されることで形成されている。また、液体貯留部３３ａ、３３ｂ、３３ｃは液体を保持する液体吸収体１５ａ，１５ｂ，１５ｃを収容しており、シアン、マジェンタ、イエローのインクが、それぞれ、液体吸収体１５ａ，１５ｂ，１５ｃに内包されている。
もちろん、液体貯留部３３ａ、３３ｂ、３３ｃに収容される液体はインクに限られず、同種類の液体が液体貯留部３３ａ、３３ｂ、３３ｃに収容されていてもよい。また、液体貯留部３３ａ、３３ｂ、３３ｃは、液体吸収体１５ａ，１５ｂ，１５ｃを用いずに液体を収容していてもよい。 As shown in FIG. 3, the support member 9 has a plurality of liquid storage portions 33a, 33b, and 33c.
In the present embodiment, the plurality of liquid storage portions 33a, 33b, and 33c are formed by dividing one storage space using a wall. The liquid reservoirs 33a, 33b, and 33c contain liquid absorbers 15a, 15b, and 15c that hold the liquid, and cyan, magenta, and yellow inks are included in the liquid absorbers 15a, 15b, and 15c, respectively. Has been.
Of course, the liquid stored in the liquid storage units 33a, 33b, and 33c is not limited to ink, and the same type of liquid may be stored in the liquid storage units 33a, 33b, and 33c. Further, the liquid reservoirs 33a, 33b, and 33c may store liquid without using the liquid absorbers 15a, 15b, and 15c.

図４は記録素子基板８の平面図である。図４に示すように、本実施形態では、記録素子基板８は、記録素子基板８の一方の面（表面）に形成された３種類の吐出口１６ａ，１６ｂ，１６ｃを有し、３種類の吐出口１６ａ，１６ｂ，１６ｃが、それぞれ、シアン、マジェンタ、イエローのインクを吐出する。吐出口１６ａは複数形成されており、２つの吐出口列１７ａを形成している。吐出口１６ｂ，１６ｃも、吐出口１６ａと同様に、それぞれ、２つの吐出口列１７ｂおよび２つの吐出口列１７ｃを形成している。
図５は、記録素子基板８を図４に示されるＤ−Ｄ面で切断したときの断面図である。なお、図５ではマジェンタのインクを吐出する吐出口１６ａの周辺のみが示されているが、シアンやイエローのインクを吐出する吐出口１６ｂ，１６ｃの周辺も、吐出口１６ａの周辺と同じような構造になっている。
図５に示すように、記録素子基板８は液体を吐出するために利用されるエネルギを発生する吐出エネルギ発生素子としての発熱抵抗体１８を備える。発熱抵抗体１８は、吐出口１６ａに対向する位置に配されており、かつ、発熱抵抗体１８を保護する保護膜１９と絶縁膜２０との間に挟まれている。
また、記録素子基板８は、流路２１を介して吐出口１６ａに連通する液室２２ａを有する。液室２２ａは記録素子基板８の他方の面（裏面）に形成された開口である供給口を有する。供給口は、記録素子基板８の一方の面とその裏面の他方の面とを貫通している。 FIG. 4 is a plan view of the recording element substrate 8. As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the recording element substrate 8 has three types of discharge ports 16a, 16b, and 16c formed on one surface (front surface) of the recording element substrate 8. The ejection ports 16a, 16b, and 16c eject cyan, magenta, and yellow ink, respectively. A plurality of discharge ports 16a are formed, and two discharge port arrays 17a are formed. Similarly to the discharge port 16a, the discharge ports 16b and 16c also form two discharge port arrays 17b and two discharge port arrays 17c, respectively.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the recording element substrate 8 taken along the DD plane shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, only the periphery of the discharge port 16a that discharges magenta ink is shown, but the periphery of the discharge ports 16b and 16c that discharge cyan and yellow ink is similar to the periphery of the discharge port 16a. It has a structure.
As shown in FIG. 5, the recording element substrate 8 includes a heating resistor 18 as an ejection energy generating element that generates energy used for ejecting the liquid. The heating resistor 18 is disposed at a position facing the discharge port 16a, and is sandwiched between a protective film 19 that protects the heating resistor 18 and the insulating film 20.
Further, the recording element substrate 8 has a liquid chamber 22 a that communicates with the ejection port 16 a through the flow path 21. The liquid chamber 22 a has a supply port that is an opening formed on the other surface (back surface) of the recording element substrate 8. The supply port passes through one surface of the recording element substrate 8 and the other surface of the back surface thereof.

図６は、液体吐出ヘッド７の分解斜視図である。図７ないし９は、それぞれ、図１に示されるＡ−Ａ面、Ｂ−Ｂ面、Ｃ−Ｃ面で液体吐出ヘッド７を切断したときの断面図である。図９は液体貯留部３３ｂから液体収容部１４ｂを介して液室２２ｂまで流れる液体の経路を示しているが、液体貯留部３３ｃから液体収容部１４ｃを介して液室２２ｃまで流れる液体の経路も図９に示される経路と同じであり、ここでは省略する。
図７ないし９に示すように、支持部材９は記録素子基板８の他方の面を支持している。具体的には、接着剤２３を用いて記録素子基板８の他方の面が支持部材９の下面に接着されている。そして、液体を収容可能な液体収容部１４ａは液室２２ａよりも上方に位置し、そのさらに上方に液体貯留部３３ａが位置している。液体収容部１４ａと同様に、液体を収容可能な液体収容部１４ｂは液室２２ｂの上方に位置しており、液体を収容可能な液体収容部１４ｃは液室２２ｃの上方に位置している。 FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid discharge head 7. 7 to 9 are cross-sectional views when the liquid ejection head 7 is cut along the AA plane, the BB plane, and the CC plane shown in FIG. 1, respectively. Although FIG. 9 shows the path of the liquid flowing from the liquid storage part 33b to the liquid chamber 22b via the liquid storage part 14b, the path of the liquid flowing from the liquid storage part 33c to the liquid chamber 22c via the liquid storage part 14c is also shown. The route is the same as that shown in FIG. 9 and is omitted here.
As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the support member 9 supports the other surface of the recording element substrate 8. Specifically, the other surface of the recording element substrate 8 is bonded to the lower surface of the support member 9 using the adhesive 23. And the liquid storage part 14a which can store a liquid is located above the liquid chamber 22a, and the liquid storage part 33a is located further upwards. Similarly to the liquid storage portion 14a, the liquid storage portion 14b that can store a liquid is positioned above the liquid chamber 22b, and the liquid storage portion 14c that can store a liquid is positioned above the liquid chamber 22c.

また、支持部材９は、液体収容部１４ａの横断面積よりも小さい横断面積を有する連通路２４ａを有する。連通路２４ａは液体収容部１４ａから液室２２ａの開口まで鉛直方向に沿って延び、液体収容部１４ａと液室２２ａとを連通している。したがって、液体収容部１４ａ内の液体は、連通路２４ａおよび液室２２ａの順に流れて吐出口１６ａ（図４，５参照）へ供給される。
つまり液体貯留部３３ａに保持されている液体は、液体収容部１４ａ、連通路２４ａをこの順に介して液室２２ａに供給される。図７に示すように、液体収容部１４ａの内壁はテーパー形状となっており、第１の連通路２４ａとの接続部に向かって、断面積が徐々に小さくなる部分を有している。後述するように、このような形状により連通路２４ａ内の泡が液体収容部１４ａに抜け易くなる。
同様に、支持部材９は、液体収容部１４ｂと液室２２ｂとを連通する連通路２４ｂ、および液体収容部１４ｃと液室２２ｃとを連通する連通路２４ｃを有する。液体収容部１４ｂ内の液体は連通路２４ｂおよび液室２２ｂの順に流れて吐出口１６ｂ（図４参照）へ供給され、液体収容部１４ｃ内の液体は連通路２４ｃおよび液室２２ｃの順に流れて吐出口１６ｃ（図４参照）へ供給される。
なお、本書の説明において、液体収容部１４ａ、液室２２ａおよび連通路２４ａを、それぞれ、第１の液体収容部、第１の液室および第１の連通路と称することがある。液体収容部１４ｂ，１４ｃ、液室２２ｂ，２２ｃおよび連通路２４ｂ，２４ｃを、それぞれ、第２の液体収容部、第２の液室および第２の連通路と称することがある。 Further, the support member 9 has a communication passage 24a having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the liquid storage portion 14a. The communication path 24a extends along the vertical direction from the liquid storage portion 14a to the opening of the liquid chamber 22a, and communicates the liquid storage portion 14a with the liquid chamber 22a. Therefore, the liquid in the liquid storage portion 14a flows in the order of the communication path 24a and the liquid chamber 22a and is supplied to the discharge port 16a (see FIGS. 4 and 5).
That is, the liquid held in the liquid storage part 33a is supplied to the liquid chamber 22a through the liquid storage part 14a and the communication path 24a in this order. As shown in FIG. 7, the inner wall of the liquid storage portion 14a has a tapered shape, and has a portion where the cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward the connection portion with the first communication path 24a. As will be described later, this shape makes it easier for bubbles in the communication passage 24a to escape into the liquid storage portion 14a.
Similarly, the support member 9 includes a communication path 24b that communicates between the liquid storage part 14b and the liquid chamber 22b, and a communication path 24c that communicates between the liquid storage part 14c and the liquid chamber 22c. The liquid in the liquid storage part 14b flows in the order of the communication path 24b and the liquid chamber 22b and is supplied to the discharge port 16b (see FIG. 4), and the liquid in the liquid storage part 14c flows in the order of the communication path 24c and the liquid chamber 22c. It is supplied to the discharge port 16c (see FIG. 4).
In the description of this document, the liquid container 14a, the liquid chamber 22a, and the communication path 24a may be referred to as a first liquid container, a first liquid chamber, and a first communication path, respectively. The liquid storage portions 14b and 14c, the liquid chambers 22b and 22c, and the communication paths 24b and 24c may be referred to as a second liquid storage section, a second liquid chamber, and a second communication path, respectively.

本実施形態では、図６および９に示すように、支持部材９は、互いに接合された第１および第２の部材２５，２６を含む。液体収容部１４ａおよび連通路２４ａ，２４ｂ，２４ｃは第１の部材２５のみで形成されており、液体収容部１４ｂ，１５ｃは第１の部材２５と第２の部材２６とで形成されている。
連通路２４ａ，２４ｂ，２４ｃの横断面積は、それぞれ、液室２２ａ，２２ｂ，２２ｃの開口の面積よりも小さい。そのため、液室２２ａ，２２ｂの間の間隔や液室２２ａ，２２ｃの間の間隔を狭めても、連通路２４ａと連通路２４ｂとの間の連通路壁の厚み、および連通路２４ａおよび２５ｃとの間の連通路壁の厚みを十分に確保することができる。したがって、当該連通路壁の強度を損なうことなく記録素子基板８を小型化することができ、液体吐出ヘッド７および液体吐出装置１２（図２参照）のコストを低減することが可能になる。
連通路２４ａの長さは、連通路２４ｂ，２４ｃの長さよりも長い。そのため、液体収容部１４ａ，１４ｂ，１４ｃを比較的自由な位置に設けることができる。
例えば、連通路２４ａの長さＬａと連通路２４ｂの長さＬｂとを同じにすると、液体収容部１４ａの壁面Ｓａを、図７に示す点線の位置としなければならない。この場合、壁面Ｓａと、液体収容部１４ｂの壁面Ｓｂと、の間の間隔ＧがＧｍｉｎまで狭くなる。その結果、液体収容部１４ａと液体収容部１４ｂとの間の収容部壁の強度が低下してしまう。金型に成形材料を充填して支持部材９を成形する場合には、金型内の、収容部壁となる空間への成形材料の充填が困難になる。
本実施形態では、連通路２４ａの長さが連通路２４ｂ，２５ｃの長さよりも長いので、液体収容部１４ａを液体収容部１４ｂ，１５ｃよりも記録素子基板８から離すことができる。その結果、壁面Ｓａと壁面Ｓｂとの間の間隔Ｇを広げることができ、前記収容部壁の強度を十分に確保することが可能になる。金型に成形材料を充填して支持部材９を成形する場合であっても、金型内の、収容部壁となる空間への成形材料の充填が容易になる。 In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the support member 9 includes first and second members 25 and 26 joined to each other. The liquid storage portion 14a and the communication passages 24a, 24b, and 24c are formed only by the first member 25, and the liquid storage portions 14b and 15c are formed by the first member 25 and the second member 26.
The cross-sectional areas of the communication paths 24a, 24b, and 24c are smaller than the areas of the openings of the liquid chambers 22a, 22b, and 22c, respectively. Therefore, even if the interval between the liquid chambers 22a and 22b and the interval between the liquid chambers 22a and 22c are reduced, the thickness of the communication path wall between the communication path 24a and the communication path 24b, and the communication paths 24a and 25c A sufficient thickness of the communication path wall between the two can be ensured. Therefore, the recording element substrate 8 can be reduced in size without impairing the strength of the communication path wall, and the costs of the liquid discharge head 7 and the liquid discharge device 12 (see FIG. 2) can be reduced.
The length of the communication path 24a is longer than the length of the communication paths 24b and 24c. Therefore, the liquid storage portions 14a, 14b, and 14c can be provided at relatively free positions.
For example, if the length La of the communication path 24a and the length Lb of the communication path 24b are the same, the wall surface Sa of the liquid storage portion 14a must be set to the position of the dotted line shown in FIG. In this case, the gap G between the wall surface Sa and the wall surface Sb of the liquid storage portion 14b is narrowed to Gmin. As a result, the strength of the container wall between the liquid container 14a and the liquid container 14b is reduced. When the support member 9 is molded by filling the mold with the molding material, it becomes difficult to fill the molding material into the space serving as the housing portion wall in the mold.
In this embodiment, since the length of the communication path 24a is longer than the length of the communication paths 24b and 25c, the liquid storage portion 14a can be separated from the recording element substrate 8 than the liquid storage portions 14b and 15c. As a result, the gap G between the wall surface Sa and the wall surface Sb can be widened, and the strength of the housing portion wall can be sufficiently ensured. Even when the support member 9 is molded by filling the mold with the molding material, the molding material can be easily filled into the space serving as the housing portion wall in the mold.

また、液体の供給方向と直交方向に関して、連通路２４ａの横断面積は、連通路２４ｂ，２４ｃの横断面積よりも大きい。そのため、連通路２４ａ内の気泡は連通路２４ｂ，２４ｃ内の気泡よりも上方へ移動しやすい。この理由を、図１０を用いて説明する。図１０は、図１に示されるＡ−Ａ面で液体吐出ヘッド７を切断したときの断面図であり、気泡に作用する力を説明するための図である。
連通路２４ｂの横断面積Ｗｂは液室２２ｂの開口の面積よりも小さい。そのため、気泡２７ｂが液室２２ｂ内で成長して気泡２７ｂの横断面積が連通路２４ｂの横断面積Ｗｂよりも大きくなった気泡２７ｂは、浮力Ｂｂにより上昇して気泡２７ｂの上部だけが連通路２４ａに入り、気泡２７ｂの下部が液室２２ｂ内に残る。
この段階では、気泡２７ｂの上部の表面積は気泡２７ｂの下部の表面積よりも小さいので、上部表面張力Ｔｕｂが下部表面張力Ｔｌｂよりも大きい。上部表面張力Ｔｕｂが下部表面張力Ｔｌｂと浮力Ｂｂとの合力と等しいと、気泡２７ｂは上昇せず、気泡２７ｂの下部は液室３ａに留まる（図１０（ａ）参照）。
気泡２７ｂがさらに成長すると、図１０（ｂ）に示すように、気泡２７ｂの上部は液体収容部１４ｂへ達する。液体収容部１４ｂの横断面積は連通路２４ｂの横断面積Ｗｂよりも大きいので、気泡２７ｂの上部の表面積は図１０（ａ）に示される状態よりも大きくなる。その結果、上部表面張力Ｔｕｂが下部表面張力Ｔｌｂと浮力Ｂｂとの合力よりも小さくなり、気泡２７ｂは上昇して液室２２ｂから抜ける。 Further, the cross-sectional area of the communication path 24a is larger than the cross-sectional areas of the communication paths 24b and 24c in the direction orthogonal to the liquid supply direction. Therefore, the bubbles in the communication path 24a are more likely to move upward than the bubbles in the communication paths 24b and 24c. The reason for this will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid ejection head 7 cut along the AA plane shown in FIG. 1, and is a view for explaining the force acting on the bubbles.
The cross-sectional area Wb of the communication path 24b is smaller than the area of the opening of the liquid chamber 22b. Therefore, the bubble 27b in which the bubble 27b grows in the liquid chamber 22b and the cross-sectional area of the bubble 27b is larger than the cross-sectional area Wb of the communication path 24b is raised by the buoyancy Bb, and only the upper part of the bubble 27b is connected to the communication path 24a. And the lower part of the bubble 27b remains in the liquid chamber 22b.
At this stage, since the upper surface area of the bubble 27b is smaller than the lower surface area of the bubble 27b, the upper surface tension Tub is larger than the lower surface tension Tlb. When the upper surface tension Tub is equal to the resultant force of the lower surface tension Tlb and the buoyancy Bb, the bubble 27b does not rise and the lower portion of the bubble 27b remains in the liquid chamber 3a (see FIG. 10A).
When the bubble 27b further grows, as shown in FIG. 10B, the upper part of the bubble 27b reaches the liquid storage portion 14b. Since the cross-sectional area of the liquid storage portion 14b is larger than the cross-sectional area Wb of the communication passage 24b, the surface area of the upper portion of the bubble 27b is larger than the state shown in FIG. As a result, the upper surface tension Tub becomes smaller than the resultant force of the lower surface tension Tlb and the buoyancy Bb, and the bubbles 27b rise and escape from the liquid chamber 22b.

図１０（ａ）に示すように、液室２２ａ内でも、気泡２７ｂと同様に気泡２７ａが成長する。連通路２４ａの長さＬａが連通路２４ｂの長さＬｂよりも長いので、気泡２７ａが気泡６ｂと同じ程度に成長しても気泡２７ａの上部は液体収容部１ａに達しない。
しかし、液体の供給方向と直交方向に関して、連通路２４ａの横断面積Ｗａが連通路２４ｂの横断面積Ｗｂよりも大きいので、気泡２７ａの上部表面張力Ｔｕａは気泡２７ｂの上部表面張力Ｔｕｂよりも小さい。したがって、上部表面張力Ｔｕａは下部表面張力Ｔｌａと浮力Ｂａとの合力よりも小さくなりやすく、気泡２７ａの上部が液体収容部１４ａに達しなくても気泡２７ａは上昇する。その結果、液室２２ａから気泡２７ａが抜ける。
成長した気泡２７ａ，２７ｂが液室２２ａ，２２ｂに溜まらないので、液体は液体収容部１４ａ，１４ｂから液室２２ａ，２２ｂに十分に供給される。その結果、液室２２ａ，２２ｂに連通する吐出口１６ａ，１６ｂ（図４，５参照）から液体を良好に吐出することができる。
連通路２４ｃの長さおよび横断面積は連通路２４ｂの長さおよび横断面積と同じであり、液室２２ｃ内に成長した気泡が留まりにくい。
なお、本実施形態では、図８や図９に示す連通路２４ａと連通路２４ｂとの幅を等しくし、図７に示す連通路２４ａの幅を連通路２４ｂの幅よりも大きくすることで、連通路２４ａの横断面積を連通路２４ｂの横断面積よりも大きくしている。説明の便宜のため、図７や図１０では横断面積Ｗａ、Ｗｂを一次元的に図示している。
なお、本実施形態に係る液体吐出ヘッド７は、相対的に短い第２の連通路として連通路２４ｂ，２４ｃを有し相対的に長い第１の連通路として連通路２４ｂ，２４ｃの間に配された連通路２４ａを有しているが、本発明はこの態様に限られない。例えば、第２の連通路は１つであってもよいし、３つ以上であってもよい。また、第１の連通路は２つの第２の連通路の間に位置していなくてもよい。 As shown in FIG. 10A, the bubbles 27a grow in the liquid chamber 22a as well as the bubbles 27b. Since the length La of the communication passage 24a is longer than the length Lb of the communication passage 24b, even if the bubble 27a grows to the same extent as the bubble 6b, the upper portion of the bubble 27a does not reach the liquid storage portion 1a.
However, since the cross sectional area Wa of the communication passage 24a is larger than the cross sectional area Wb of the communication passage 24b in the direction orthogonal to the liquid supply direction, the upper surface tension Tua of the bubbles 27a is smaller than the upper surface tension Tub of the bubbles 27b. Therefore, the upper surface tension Tua tends to be smaller than the resultant force of the lower surface tension Tla and the buoyancy Ba, and the bubble 27a rises even if the upper portion of the bubble 27a does not reach the liquid storage portion 14a. As a result, the bubbles 27a escape from the liquid chamber 22a.
Since the grown bubbles 27a and 27b do not accumulate in the liquid chambers 22a and 22b, the liquid is sufficiently supplied from the liquid storage portions 14a and 14b to the liquid chambers 22a and 22b. As a result, the liquid can be favorably discharged from the discharge ports 16a and 16b (see FIGS. 4 and 5) communicating with the liquid chambers 22a and 22b.
The length and the cross-sectional area of the communication path 24c are the same as the length and the cross-sectional area of the communication path 24b, and bubbles that have grown in the liquid chamber 22c are difficult to stay.
In the present embodiment, the widths of the communication passage 24a and the communication passage 24b shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are made equal, and the width of the communication passage 24a shown in FIG. 7 is made larger than the width of the communication passage 24b. The cross-sectional area of the communication path 24a is made larger than the cross-sectional area of the communication path 24b. For convenience of explanation, the cross-sectional areas Wa and Wb are illustrated one-dimensionally in FIGS.
The liquid discharge head 7 according to the present embodiment includes the communication paths 24b and 24c as the relatively short second communication paths, and is arranged between the communication paths 24b and 24c as the relatively long first communication paths. However, the present invention is not limited to this mode. For example, the number of second communication paths may be one, or three or more. The first communication path may not be located between the two second communication paths.

また、本実施形態では、液室２２ａは、水平方向に関して互いに対向する内側面同士の間の間隔が下方へ向かうにつれて狭くなるように形成されている。液室２２ｂ，２２ｃも、液室２２ａと同様の形状を有する。液室２２ａ，２２ｂ，２２ｃをこのような形状にすることで、液室２２ａ，２２ｂ，２２ｃ内の液体が吐出口１６ａ，１６ｂ，１６ｃ（図４，５参照）へ供給されやすくなる。その結果、吐出口１６ａ，１６ｂ，１６ｃから液体を良好に吐出することができる。
水平方向に関して互いに対向する内側面同士の間の間隔が下方へ向かうにつれて狭くなるように液室２２ａが形成されている場合、連通路２４ａの横断面積Ｗａは、液室２２ａに内接する仮想球の横断面積以上であることがより望ましい。なお、ここで、「液室２２ａに内接する仮想球」は、液室２２ａの２つの内側面および液室２２ａの開口を塞いだときに形成される仮想面に接する仮想球を意味する。また、「仮想球の横断面積」は、仮想球の中心を通る仮想面で切ったときの切り口の面積を意味する。
このようにすることで、上部表面張力Ｔｕａは常に気泡２７ｂの上部表面張力Ｔｕｂ以下になる。したがって、上部表面張力Ｔｕａは下部表面張力Ｔｌａと浮力Ｂａとの合力よりも常に小さくなり、気泡２７ａは液室２２内に留まることなく上昇する。その結果、吐出不良がより抑制される。 Moreover, in this embodiment, the liquid chamber 22a is formed so that the space | interval between the inner surfaces which mutually oppose about a horizontal direction becomes narrow as it goes below. The liquid chambers 22b and 22c have the same shape as the liquid chamber 22a. By forming the liquid chambers 22a, 22b, and 22c in such a shape, the liquid in the liquid chambers 22a, 22b, and 22c is easily supplied to the discharge ports 16a, 16b, and 16c (see FIGS. 4 and 5). As a result, the liquid can be favorably ejected from the ejection ports 16a, 16b, and 16c.
When the liquid chamber 22a is formed so that the interval between the inner side surfaces facing each other in the horizontal direction becomes narrower downward, the cross-sectional area Wa of the communication path 24a is the phantom sphere inscribed in the liquid chamber 22a. It is more desirable that it is greater than the cross-sectional area. Here, the “virtual sphere inscribed in the liquid chamber 22a” means a virtual sphere in contact with a virtual surface formed when the two inner surfaces of the liquid chamber 22a and the opening of the liquid chamber 22a are closed. Further, the “cross-sectional area of the phantom sphere” means the area of the cut surface when cut by a virtual plane passing through the center of the phantom sphere.
By doing so, the upper surface tension Tua is always equal to or lower than the upper surface tension Tub of the bubbles 27b. Therefore, the upper surface tension Tua is always smaller than the resultant force of the lower surface tension Tla and the buoyancy Ba, and the bubbles 27a rise without staying in the liquid chamber 22. As a result, ejection failure is further suppressed.

再び図７ないし９を参照する。液体吐出ヘッド７は、液体収容部１４ａ，１４ｂ，１４ｃに収容されたフィルタ２８ａ，２８ｂ，２８ｃを備えていてもよい。フィルタ２８ａ，２８ｂ，２８ｃを設けることで、フィルタ２８ａ，２８ｂ，２８ｃから記録素子基板８へのゴミの流入を防ぐことができる。
フィルタ２８ａについて具体的に説明すると、液体収容部１４ａの一部のみに液体吸収体１５ａが収容されており、液体吸収体１５ａと連通路２４ａとの間にフィルタ２８ａが配されている。液体吸収体１５ａに内包された液体はフィルタ２８ａを通って連通路２４ａへ流れるので、ごみは液体吸収体１５ａから連通路２４ａへ流れなくなる。 Reference is again made to FIGS. The liquid discharge head 7 may include filters 28a, 28b, and 28c accommodated in the liquid accommodation portions 14a, 14b, and 14c. By providing the filters 28a, 28b, and 28c, it is possible to prevent dust from flowing into the recording element substrate 8 from the filters 28a, 28b, and 28c.
The filter 28a will be specifically described. The liquid absorber 15a is accommodated only in a part of the liquid accommodating portion 14a, and the filter 28a is disposed between the liquid absorber 15a and the communication path 24a. Since the liquid contained in the liquid absorber 15a flows to the communication path 24a through the filter 28a, dust does not flow from the liquid absorber 15a to the communication path 24a.

本実施形態に係る支持部材９は、金型を用いた第１および第２の部材２５ａ，２６ｂの成形および超音波溶着法を用いた第１および第２の部材２５ａ，２６ｂの接合により製造可能である。図１１ないし１３を用いて、支持部材９の製造方法を説明する。
図１１ないし１３は、第１の部材２５を成形する方法の一例を示すための図である。なお、図１１ないし１３は、それぞれ、図１に示されるＡ−Ａ面、Ｂ−Ｂ面、Ｃ−Ｃ面で第１の部材２５を切断したときの断面図である。図１３は液体収容部１４ｂの周辺を示しているが、液体収容部１４ｃの周辺も液体収容部１４ｂと同じ構造を有する。
図１１ないし１３に示すように、第１の部材２５は、コア駒２９ａ，２９ｂ，２９ｃ、キャビ駒３０，スライド駒３１を含む金型を用いて成形される。金型に成形材料を充填することで、液体収容部１４ａおよび連通路２４ａ，２４ｂ，２４ｃが形作られ、液体収容部１４ｂ，１５ｃの一部が形作られる。
具体的には、図１１および１２に示すように、金型に成形材料を充填した後にコア駒２９ａおよびキャビ駒３０を図中の白抜き矢印の方向へ移動させることで液体収容部１４ａおよび連通路２４ａ，２４ｂ，２４ｃが形作られる。図１１および１３に示すように、金型に成形材料を充填した後にコア駒２９ｂおよびスライド駒３１を図中の白抜き矢印方向へ移動させることで液体収容部１４ｂが形作られる。液体収容部１４ｃは、液体収容部１４ｂと同様に、コア駒２９ｃおよびスライド駒３１を用いて成形される。 The support member 9 according to the present embodiment can be manufactured by molding the first and second members 25a, 26b using a mold and joining the first and second members 25a, 26b using an ultrasonic welding method. It is. A method for manufacturing the support member 9 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIGS. 11 to 13 are diagrams for illustrating an example of a method for forming the first member 25. 11 to 13 are cross-sectional views when the first member 25 is cut along the AA plane, the BB plane, and the CC plane shown in FIG. 1, respectively. Although FIG. 13 shows the periphery of the liquid storage portion 14b, the periphery of the liquid storage portion 14c has the same structure as the liquid storage portion 14b.
As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the first member 25 is formed using a mold including core pieces 29 a, 29 b, 29 c, a cavity piece 30, and a slide piece 31. By filling the mold with the molding material, the liquid storage portion 14a and the communication passages 24a, 24b, and 24c are formed, and a part of the liquid storage portions 14b and 15c is formed.
Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, after filling the mold with the molding material, the core piece 29a and the cavity piece 30 are moved in the direction of the white arrow in the figure, thereby allowing the liquid storage portion 14a and the continuous portion to be connected. Passages 24a, 24b, 24c are formed. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, the liquid container 14 b is formed by moving the core piece 29 b and the slide piece 31 in the direction of the white arrow in the figure after filling the mold with the molding material. The liquid container 14c is formed using the core piece 29c and the slide piece 31 in the same manner as the liquid container 14b.

再び図６および９を参照する。第２の部材２６は、第１の部材２５に接合されて第１の部材２５とともに液体収容部１４ｂ，１５ｃを形成する。ここで、第２の部材２６を第１の部材２５に接合する方法について説明する。
第２の部材２６を第１の部材２５に接合する方法として、接着剤接合法や超音波溶着法が挙げられる。
接着剤接合法は、第１および第２の部材２５，２６の少なくとも一方に接着剤を塗布し、当該接着剤を介して他方の部材を一方の部材に当てた状態で接着剤を固めることで第１および第２の部材２５，２６を互いに接合する方法である。接着剤接合法では、接合面が比較的狭くてもよいが、接着剤を用意したり接着剤を固めたりする必要があるので比較的コストがかかる。
超音波溶着法は、第１および第２の部材２５，２６を互いに擦り合せることで生じる摩擦熱を用いて第１および第２の部材２５，２６を互いに溶着させる方法である。超音波溶着法では、接着剤を準備したり接着剤を固めたりする必要がないので接着剤接合法に比べてコストが低いが、接合の際に第１および第２の部材２５，２６を互いに擦り合せなければならいので、より広い接合面が必要とされる。 Reference is again made to FIGS. The second member 26 is joined to the first member 25 to form the liquid storage portions 14 b and 15 c together with the first member 25. Here, a method of joining the second member 26 to the first member 25 will be described.
Examples of a method for joining the second member 26 to the first member 25 include an adhesive joining method and an ultrasonic welding method.
In the adhesive bonding method, an adhesive is applied to at least one of the first and second members 25 and 26, and the adhesive is hardened in a state where the other member is applied to the one member via the adhesive. In this method, the first and second members 25 and 26 are joined together. In the adhesive bonding method, the bonding surface may be relatively narrow, but it is relatively expensive because it is necessary to prepare an adhesive or harden the adhesive.
The ultrasonic welding method is a method in which the first and second members 25 and 26 are welded to each other using frictional heat generated by rubbing the first and second members 25 and 26 together. In the ultrasonic welding method, since it is not necessary to prepare an adhesive or harden the adhesive, the cost is lower than that of the adhesive bonding method. However, the first and second members 25 and 26 are joined to each other at the time of bonding. Since they must be rubbed together, a wider joint surface is required.

本実施形態では、第２の部材２６は第１の部材２５とともに液体収容部１４ｂ，１５ｃを形成する部材である。すなわち、第１の部材２５と第２の部材２６との間の接合部は液体収容部１４ｂ，１５ｃの壁を形成する。
そして、液体収容部１４ｂ，１４ｃの壁の厚みは記録素子基板８の大きさに影響を与えないので、液体収容部１４ｂ，１５ｃの壁を比較的厚くてもよい。したがって、第１の部材２５と第２の部材２６との間の接合面３２を比較的広くすることができ、第１の部材２５と第２の部材２６との接合に超音波溶着法を用いることができる。その結果、第２の部材２６を第１の部材２５に接合するのに必要なコストがより抑えられ、液体吐出ヘッド７のコストが抑えられる。
なお、図７，１０に示される例では、連通路２４ａは、液体収容部１４ａから液室２２ａまでの全域にわたって液室２２ａの開口の面積よりも小さい横断面積Ｗａを有するが、本発明はこの形態に限られない。
例えば、連通路２４ａが、液室２２ａの開口の面積よりも小さい横断面積を有する細流路部分と、連通路２４ａの他の部分が液室２２ａの開口の面積以上の横断面積を有する太流路部分と、からなっていてもよい。そして、連通路２４ｂ，２４ｃも、連通路２４ａと同様の構造を有していてもよい。この場合には、連通路２４ａの細流路部分の長さを連通路２４ｂ，２２ｃの細流路部分の長さよりも長く、連通路２４ａの細流路部分の横断面積を連通路２４ｂ，２２ｃの細流路部分の横断面積よりも大きくしておけばよい。
ただし、連通路２４ａ，２４ｂ，２４ｃが太流路部分を含む場合、連通路壁が薄肉化されて連通路壁の強度が不足する虞がある。連通路壁の強度を確保するため、連通路２４ａ，２４ｂ，２４ｃの少なくとも１つが細流路部分のみからなっていることがより好ましい。連通路２４ａ，２４ｂ，２４ｃの全てが細流路部分のみからなっていることがさらに好ましい。
また、液体収容部１４ａの横断面積は、液体収容部１４ａの全体において連通路２４ａの横断面積よりも大きくなくてもよい。具体的には、液体収容部１４ａのうち、連通路２４ａに接続される部分（下部）の横断面積が連通路２４ａの横断面積よりも大きくなっていればよい。言い換えれば、連通路２４ａの前記流路部分は、液体収容部１４ａの内部空間を絞るように液体収容部１４ａに連続していればよい。連通路２４ｂ，２４ｃも、連通路２４ａと同様の構造であってもよい。 In the present embodiment, the second member 26 is a member that forms the liquid storage portions 14 b and 15 c together with the first member 25. That is, the joint between the first member 25 and the second member 26 forms the walls of the liquid storage portions 14b and 15c.
Since the wall thickness of the liquid storage portions 14b and 14c does not affect the size of the recording element substrate 8, the walls of the liquid storage portions 14b and 15c may be relatively thick. Therefore, the joining surface 32 between the first member 25 and the second member 26 can be made relatively wide, and an ultrasonic welding method is used for joining the first member 25 and the second member 26. be able to. As a result, the cost required to join the second member 26 to the first member 25 is further reduced, and the cost of the liquid ejection head 7 is reduced.
In the example shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the communication path 24a has a cross-sectional area Wa that is smaller than the area of the opening of the liquid chamber 22a over the entire area from the liquid storage portion 14a to the liquid chamber 22a. It is not limited to form.
For example, the narrow passage portion in which the communication passage 24a has a cross-sectional area smaller than the opening area of the liquid chamber 22a, and the thick passage in which the other portion of the communication passage 24a has a cross-sectional area equal to or larger than the opening area of the liquid chamber 22a. And may consist of parts. The communication paths 24b and 24c may also have the same structure as the communication path 24a. In this case, the length of the narrow channel portion of the communication passage 24a is longer than the length of the narrow channel portion of the communication passages 24b and 22c, and the cross-sectional area of the narrow channel portion of the communication passage 24a is set to be the narrow channel of the communication passages 24b and 22c. It may be larger than the cross-sectional area of the part.
However, when the communication passages 24a, 24b, and 24c include a thick channel portion, the communication passage wall may be thinned and the strength of the communication passage wall may be insufficient. In order to ensure the strength of the communication path wall, it is more preferable that at least one of the communication paths 24a, 24b, and 24c is composed only of the narrow channel portion. It is more preferable that all of the communication passages 24a, 24b, and 24c are composed of only a narrow channel portion.
Further, the cross-sectional area of the liquid storage portion 14a may not be larger than the cross-sectional area of the communication path 24a in the entire liquid storage portion 14a. Specifically, the cross-sectional area of the portion (lower part) connected to the communication path 24a in the liquid storage portion 14a only needs to be larger than the cross-sectional area of the communication path 24a. In other words, the flow path portion of the communication path 24a only needs to be continuous with the liquid storage portion 14a so as to restrict the internal space of the liquid storage portion 14a. The communication paths 24b and 24c may have the same structure as the communication path 24a.

７ 液体吐出ヘッド
８ 記録素子基板
９ 支持部材
１４ａ 第１の液体収容部
１４ｂ 第２の液体収容部
１４ｃ 第２の液体収容部
１６ 吐出口
２２ａ 第１の液室
２２ｂ 第２の液室
２２ｃ 第２の液室
２４ａ 第１の連通路
２４ｂ 第２の連通路
２４ｃ 第２の連通路
Ｌａ 連通路の長さ
Ｌｂ 連通路の長さ
Ｗａ 連通路の横幅
Ｗｂ 連通路の横幅 7 Liquid discharge head 8 Recording element substrate 9 Support member 14a First liquid storage portion 14b Second liquid storage portion 14c Second liquid storage portion 16 Discharge port 22a First liquid chamber 22b Second liquid chamber 22c Second Liquid chamber 24a first communication path 24b second communication path 24c second communication path La length of communication path Lb length of communication path Wa width of communication path Wb width of communication path

Claims (12)

一方の面に形成された吐出口並びに該吐出口に連通する第１および第２の液室を有する記録素子基板と、該記録素子基板の他方の面を支持する支持部材と、を備えた液体吐出ヘッドが、前記吐出口を下方に向けた状態で搭載された液体吐出装置であって、前記第１および第２の液室の各々が前記他方の面に形成された開口を有し、前記支持部材が、第１および第２の液体収容部と、前記第１の液体収容部から前記第１の液室の前記開口まで延びる第１の連通路と、前記第２の液体収容部から前記第２の液室の前記開口まで延びる第２の連通路と、を有し、前記第１および第２の連通路は、それぞれ、前記第１および第２の液室の前記開口の面積よりも小さい横断面積を有する流路部分を含む、液体吐出装置において、
前記第１の連通路の前記流路部分の長さが前記第２の連通路の前記流路部分の長さよりも長く、前記第１の液体収容部が前記第２の液体収容部よりも前記記録素子基板から離れており、
前記第１の連通路の前記流路部分の横断面積が前記第２の連通路の前記流路部分の横断面積よりも大きく、
前記第１の液室内の気泡は、当該気泡の一部が前記第１の液室内に残存した状態で前記第１の連通路の内部まで成長し、かつ、当該気泡が前記第１の液体収容部に達する前に、前記第１の液室から離脱し前記第１の液体収容部に移動し、
前記第２の液室内の気泡は、当該気泡の一部が前記第２の液室内に残存した状態で前記第２の連通路を介して前記第２の液体収容部の内部まで成長した後に、前記第２の液室から離脱し前記第２の液体収容部に移動する、ことを特徴とする、液体吐出装置。 A liquid comprising: a discharge element formed on one surface; a recording element substrate having first and second liquid chambers communicating with the discharge port; and a support member supporting the other surface of the recording element substrate The discharge head is a liquid discharge apparatus mounted with the discharge port facing downward, and each of the first and second liquid chambers has an opening formed in the other surface, The support member includes first and second liquid storage portions, a first communication path extending from the first liquid storage portion to the opening of the first liquid chamber, and the second liquid storage portion. A second communication path extending to the opening of the second liquid chamber, and the first and second communication paths are larger than the area of the opening of the first and second liquid chambers, respectively. including a channel portion having a smaller cross-sectional area, in the liquid discharge apparatus,
The length of the flow path part of the first communication path is longer than the length of the flow path part of the second communication path, and the first liquid storage part is more than the second liquid storage part. Away from the recording element substrate,
The cross sectional area of the flow path section of the first communication path is much larger than the cross sectional area of the flow path section of the second communicating path,
The bubbles in the first liquid chamber grow to the inside of the first communication path in a state where a part of the bubbles remains in the first liquid chamber, and the bubbles are contained in the first liquid chamber. Before reaching the part, move away from the first liquid chamber and move to the first liquid storage part,
After the bubbles in the second liquid chamber grow to the inside of the second liquid storage portion via the second communication path in a state where a part of the bubbles remains in the second liquid chamber, A liquid ejecting apparatus, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus leaves the second liquid chamber and moves to the second liquid storage unit . 前記支持部材は、２つの前記第２の連通路を有し、
前記第１の連通路は前記２つの第２の連通路の間に位置することを特徴とする、請求項１に記載の液体吐出装置。 The support member has two second communication paths,
The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first communication path is located between the two second communication paths. 前記第１の液室は、水平方向に関して互いに対向する内側面同士の間の間隔が下方に向かって狭くなるように形成されていることを特徴とする、請求項１または２に記載の液体吐出装置。   3. The liquid ejection according to claim 1, wherein the first liquid chamber is formed such that a space between inner surfaces facing each other in the horizontal direction is narrowed downward. 4. apparatus. 前記第１の連通路の前記流路部分の横断面積が、前記第１の液室に内接する仮想球を該仮想球の中心を通る仮想面で切ったときの切り口の面積以上であることを特徴とする、請求項３に記載の液体吐出装置。   The cross-sectional area of the flow path portion of the first communication path is equal to or greater than the area of the cut when a virtual sphere inscribed in the first liquid chamber is cut by a virtual plane passing through the center of the virtual sphere. The liquid ejecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the liquid ejecting apparatus is characterized. 前記支持部材は、互いに接合された第１および第２の部材を含み、
前記第１の液体収容部並びに前記第１および第２の連通路は前記第１の部材のみで形成されており、前記第２の液体収容部は前記第１の部材と前記第２の部材とで形成されていることを特徴とする、請求項１ないし４のいずれか１項に記載の液体吐出装置。 The support member includes first and second members joined together,
The first liquid storage portion and the first and second communication paths are formed by only the first member, and the second liquid storage portion includes the first member and the second member. 5. The liquid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid ejection device is formed by: 前記第１および第２の連通路の少なくとも一方は、前記流路部分のみからなる、請求項１ないし５のいずれか１項に記載の液体吐出装置。   6. The liquid ejection device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first communication path and the second communication path includes only the flow path portion. 請求項１ないし６のいずれか１項に記載の液体吐出装置の液体吐出ヘッドであって、該液体吐出装置に取り外し可能に搭載される液体吐出ヘッド。   The liquid discharge head of the liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid discharge head is detachably mounted on the liquid discharge apparatus. 一方の面に形成された液体を吐出するために利用されるエネルギを発生する素子と、前記一方の面とその裏面の他方の面とを貫通する、前記素子に液体を供給するための第１及び第２の供給口と、を備える記録素子基板と、
液体を収容可能な第１及び第２の液体収容部と、前記第１の供給口と前記第１の液体収容部とを連通する第１の連通路と、前記第２の供給口と前記第２の液体収容部とを連通する第２の連通路と、を備え、前記記録素子基板の前記他方の面を支持する支持部材と、
を備える液体吐出ヘッドであって、
前記第１の連通路の長さは前記第２の連通路の長さよりも長く、
液体の供給方向と直交方向に関して、前記第１の連通路の断面積は、前記第２の連通路の断面積より大きく、
前記第１の供給口内の気泡は、当該気泡の一部が前記第１の供給口内に残存した状態で前記第１の連通路の内部まで成長し、かつ、当該気泡が前記第１の液体収容部に達する前に、前記第１の供給口から離脱し前記第１の液体収容部に移動し、
前記第２の供給口内の気泡は、当該気泡の一部が前記第２の供給口内に残存した状態で前記第２の連通路を介して前記第２の液体収容部の内部まで成長した後に、前記第２の供給口から離脱し前記第２の液体収容部に移動する、ことを特徴とする、液体吐出ヘッド。 A first element for supplying a liquid to the element, penetrating the element that generates energy used for discharging the liquid formed on one surface and the one surface and the other surface of the back surface. And a second supply port, and a recording element substrate,
First and second liquid storage portions capable of storing a liquid, a first communication path communicating the first supply port and the first liquid storage portion, the second supply port and the first A second communication passage that communicates with the two liquid storage portions, and a support member that supports the other surface of the recording element substrate;
A liquid ejection head comprising:
The length of the first communication path is longer than the length of the second communication path,
Respect feed direction perpendicular direction of the liquid, the cross-sectional area of said first communication path is much larger than the cross-sectional area of the second communicating path,
The bubbles in the first supply port grow up to the inside of the first communication path in a state where a part of the bubbles remains in the first supply port, and the bubbles are contained in the first liquid storage. Before reaching the part, move away from the first supply port and move to the first liquid storage part,
After the bubbles in the second supply port have grown to the inside of the second liquid storage part via the second communication path in a state where a part of the bubbles remains in the second supply port, A liquid discharge head, wherein the liquid discharge head is separated from the second supply port and moves to the second liquid storage unit . 前記支持部材は、２つの前記第２の連通路を有し、前記第１の連通路は前記２つの第２の連通路の間に位置することを特徴とする、請求項８に記載の液体吐出ヘッド。   The liquid according to claim 8, wherein the support member has two second communication passages, and the first communication passage is located between the two second communication passages. Discharge head. 前記第１の液体収容部と連通する第１の液体貯留部と、前記第２の液体収容部と連通する第２の液体貯留部と、を有することを特徴とする、請求項８または９に記載の液体吐
出ヘッド。 A first liquid reservoir communicating with the first liquid reservoir, and having a second liquid reservoir communicating with the second liquid storage portion, to claim 8 or 9 The liquid discharge head described. 前記第１の液体収容部と前記第１の液体貯留部との間、及び前記第２の液体収容部と前記第２液体貯留部との間にはフィルタが配されていることを特徴とする、請求項１０に記載の液体吐出ヘッド。   Filters are arranged between the first liquid storage unit and the first liquid storage unit and between the second liquid storage unit and the second liquid storage unit. The liquid discharge head according to claim 10. 前記第１の液体収容部は、前記第１の連通路との接続部に向かって断面積が狭くなる部分を備えることを特徴とする、請求項８ないし１１のいずれか１項に記載の液体吐出ヘッド。   The liquid according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the first liquid storage portion includes a portion whose cross-sectional area becomes narrower toward a connection portion with the first communication path. Discharge head.
JP2014080850A 2013-05-13 2014-04-10 Liquid ejection device and liquid ejection head Active JP6312507B2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2014080850A JP6312507B2 (en) 2013-05-13 2014-04-10 Liquid ejection device and liquid ejection head

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2013101314 2013-05-13
JP2013101314 2013-05-13
JP2014080850A JP6312507B2 (en) 2013-05-13 2014-04-10 Liquid ejection device and liquid ejection head

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
JP2014240186A JP2014240186A (en) 2014-12-25
JP6312507B2 true JP6312507B2 (en) 2018-04-18

Family

ID=51864482

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP2014080850A Active JP6312507B2 (en) 2013-05-13 2014-04-10 Liquid ejection device and liquid ejection head

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US8998375B2 (en)
JP (1) JP6312507B2 (en)
CN (1) CN104149490B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11254124B2 (en) 2019-03-29 2022-02-22 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid ejecting device including first endmost liquid ejecting head having liquid ejecting portion positioned deviated toward second endmost liquid ejecting head

Families Citing this family (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP6494352B2 (en) 2014-05-30 2019-04-03 キヤノン株式会社 Liquid discharge head
JP6562694B2 (en) 2014-05-30 2019-08-21 キヤノン株式会社 Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge apparatus, and method for electrically connecting liquid discharge head and liquid storage container
JP6472290B2 (en) * 2015-03-23 2019-02-20 キヤノン株式会社 Liquid discharge head and manufacturing method thereof
JP2016215545A (en) 2015-05-22 2016-12-22 キヤノン株式会社 Liquid discharge head and liquid discharge device
JP6541436B2 (en) 2015-05-27 2019-07-10 キヤノン株式会社 Liquid discharge head and liquid discharge device
JP6552282B2 (en) 2015-05-29 2019-07-31 キヤノン株式会社 LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD, LIQUID DISCHARGE DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD
JP6859043B2 (en) * 2016-07-22 2021-04-14 キヤノン株式会社 Liquid discharge head
JP6400059B2 (en) 2016-09-23 2018-10-03 キヤノン株式会社 Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge device, flow path member, and method of manufacturing liquid discharge head
CN109641454B (en) * 2016-10-14 2021-12-28 惠普发展公司，有限责任合伙企业 Fluid ejection device
JP7166851B2 (en) * 2018-09-07 2022-11-08 キヤノン株式会社 LIQUID EJECTION HEAD AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING LIQUID EJECTION HEAD
JP7277180B2 (en) * 2019-02-28 2023-05-18 キヤノン株式会社 ULTRA FINE BUBBLE GENERATOR AND ULTRA FINE BUBBLE GENERATION METHOD
JP7326815B2 (en) * 2019-03-29 2023-08-16 ブラザー工業株式会社 Liquid ejector

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5506608A (en) * 1992-04-02 1996-04-09 Hewlett-Packard Company Print cartridge body and nozzle member having similar coefficient of thermal expansion
JP3634555B2 (en) * 1997-04-21 2005-03-30 セイコーエプソン株式会社 Inkjet recording head
US6260961B1 (en) * 2000-03-02 2001-07-17 Hewlett-Packard Company Unitary one-piece body structure for ink-jet cartridge
JP3454228B2 (en) * 2000-05-22 2003-10-06 セイコーエプソン株式会社 Inkjet printer
US6513920B1 (en) * 2001-08-13 2003-02-04 Hewlett-Packard Company Controlling diffused-air bubbles in ink-jet print cartridges
US7267431B2 (en) * 2004-06-30 2007-09-11 Lexmark International, Inc. Multi-fluid ejection device
JP2008238518A (en) 2007-03-27 2008-10-09 Seiko Epson Corp Liquid jet head and liquid jet apparatus
JP2009090572A (en) * 2007-10-10 2009-04-30 Canon Inc Ink-jet recording head and recording device
JP5294884B2 (en) * 2008-02-08 2013-09-18 キヤノン株式会社 Liquid discharge head
JP5454016B2 (en) * 2009-08-31 2014-03-26 コニカミノルタ株式会社 Inkjet head
US8757782B2 (en) * 2011-11-21 2014-06-24 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11254124B2 (en) 2019-03-29 2022-02-22 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid ejecting device including first endmost liquid ejecting head having liquid ejecting portion positioned deviated toward second endmost liquid ejecting head

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN104149490B (en) 2016-05-25
US8998375B2 (en) 2015-04-07
US20140333695A1 (en) 2014-11-13
CN104149490A (en) 2014-11-19
JP2014240186A (en) 2014-12-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP6312507B2 (en) Liquid ejection device and liquid ejection head
US10005280B2 (en) Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus
JP6969139B2 (en) Liquid injection head and liquid injection device
JP6607197B2 (en) Inkjet head and inkjet recording apparatus
JP6370059B2 (en) Liquid discharge head
JP6728732B2 (en) Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus
JP2013147019A (en) Liquid ejection head
JP6987829B2 (en) Droplet depositor and its manufacturing method
JP2011104791A (en) Liquid jet head, liquid jet apparatus, and method of manufacturing the liquid jet head
JP6338623B2 (en) Method for manufacturing liquid supply member
US9114624B2 (en) Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge apparatus, and liquid filling method
JP2011131534A (en) Liquid jet head and liquid jet apparatus
JP6929090B2 (en) Manufacturing method of liquid discharge head, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge head that discharges liquid
US7597416B2 (en) Ink-jet recording apparatus
US9889657B2 (en) Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus
JP6390092B2 (en) Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus
CN110770032B (en) Liquid discharge head and liquid discharge apparatus
US10336072B2 (en) Liquid ejection head ejecting liquid, liquid ejection apparatus, and method for manufacturing liquid ejection head
JP6950214B2 (en) Liquid discharge device
JP7259386B2 (en) Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting device
JP7427874B2 (en) liquid discharge head
JP7310320B2 (en) LIQUID EJECTION HEAD AND LIQUID EJECTION APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME
JP2017061061A (en) Liquid jet head and liquid jet device
EP3705296A1 (en) Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus
JP2021084266A (en) Liquid jet head

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
A621 Written request for application examination

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A621

Effective date: 20170315

A977 Report on retrieval

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A971007

Effective date: 20171129

A131 Notification of reasons for refusal

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A131

Effective date: 20171205

A521 Request for written amendment filed

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A523

Effective date: 20180129

TRDD Decision of grant or rejection written
A01 Written decision to grant a patent or to grant a registration (utility model)

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A01

Effective date: 20180220

A61 First payment of annual fees (during grant procedure)

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A61

Effective date: 20180320

R151 Written notification of patent or utility model registration

Ref document number: 6312507

Country of ref document: JP

Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: R151